We study $\lambda$-hypersurfaces that are critical points of a Gaussian weighted area functional $\int_{ \Sigma} e^{ -\frac{ |x|^2}{ 4}}dA$ for compact variations that preserve weighted volume. First, we prove various gap and rigidity theorems for complete $\lambda$-hypersurfaces in terms of the norm of the second fundamental form $|A|$. Second, we show that in one dimension, the only smooth complete and embedded $\lambda$-hypersurfaces in $\mathbb{ R}^2$ with $\lambda\geq 0$ are lines and round circles. Moreover, we establish a Bernstein type theorem for $\lambda$-hypersurfaces which states that smooth $\lambda$-hypersurfaces that are entire graphs with polynomial volume growth are hyperplanes. All the results can be viewed as generalizations of results for self-shrinkers.
Categories: math.DG